Extreme Weather in the Midwest. Extreme weather is pummeling its way into the midwest more and more every year.

Glossary- Frequency- The rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample. This is critical because the word frequency relates to how often these weather events are happening. It’s important to scientists to calculate when extreme weather is happening. Vulnerability-the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. This is critical because we need to understand that the earth is becoming more vulnerable to extreme weather. Also citizens are vulnerable to the extreme weather when it happens to their area. Cogent- (of an argument or case) clear, logical, and convincing. This is critical to the topic because it needs to be brought up right now to people who don’t think it’s a problem. Also it is clear that global warming is happening. Crop yield- The measurement often used for a cereal, grain or legume and is normally measured in metric tons per hectare. This is critical because crop yields could start decreasing. Also we already have a food shortage in some parts of the world and this could devastate. Prudent- acting with or showing care and thought for the future. This is critical because people are going to need to start thinking about the future if they want to save the midwest. Also they need to start fixing it now so we won’t have problems in the future. Infrastructure- the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise. This is critical cause this is the main topic regarding climate change in the midwest. If it is not addressed infrastructure in the midwest could fall.

What type of Preparations are being made for extreme weather in the midwest?

To prepare for these extreme disasters people are assembling emergency supplies and signing up for emergency alerts from FEMA. “Spring in the Midwest can bring a heightened risk for severe weather, so it’s even more critical for people to get ready now,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III. As Extreme weather is becoming more frequent, people need to start preparing for it. Many people have gone through a natural disaster but still aren’t prepared for another one. In fact in a 2006 poll conducted by TIME magazine, 56% of respondents said they had gone through a major disaster. However, only 16% percent believed they were “well prepared” for the next one (Heather Levin). Most people in the midwest have experienced an extreme weather event but they still aren’t preparing for it. This is especially critical for farmers’ crops in the midwest.

What affect does extreme Weather have on farmers?

Extreme weather can greatly benefit a farmer but in an instant devastate them. According to Jeff Spross, “Higher average temperatures bring a longer growing season, but that also increases the risk of sudden cold snaps in the spring.” Farmers are able to grow their crops longer in the season which gives them more yield but if an extreme weather event occurs then that whole harvest in vulnerable. In Fact, Michigan’s $60 million cherry crop industry took a massive hit in 2012 thanks to an unexpected freeze. They lost 90% of their apple and cherry crops which had a huge economic impact on their business (Clark). If this happened to several farmers in the same season, The midwest's infrastructure could fall. Many scientists are studying these extreme weather events in the midwest.

How is public transport affected by extreme weather in the Midwest?

Even though officials take steps to prepare for them, extreme weather causes some serious challenges with public transport. In fact, two case studies from public transit agencies report, “Installation of shelters and benches at bus stops or on subway platforms helps maintain ridership on extreme weather days, and may even cut down on ridership loss during extreme weather events” (Meyer). Even though extreme weather may cause people to not ride public transit the agencies are making it safer to wait at the bus stop. Extreme weather can also get very costly moneywise and timewise. According to Michael D. Meyer “Michigan has estimated that the economic costs of disruption from a snow storm range from $66 to $700 million for just a one-day shutdown due to impassible roads.” It's cogent that this can be a severe inconvenience on people who depend on public transport to get somewhere. The costs of extreme weather events can get very expensive.

How costly are extreme weather events for the midwest?

Extreme weather events cause significant damage to cities and towns, and in some cases cost billions of dollars to repair. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information “ Three new billion-dollar disaster events have occurred in 2016 which cost more than $1 billion.” These events happen more than you think and are costing the taxpayers billions of dollars from damage to infrastructure. Hurricane Matthew was one of the most costly events that has happened recently. In fact a report from the NOAA shows that, “The most costly impacts were due to historic levels of river flooding in eastern North Carolina where 100,000 homes, businesses and other structures were damaged.” There are several disasters similar to this but Hurricane Matthew was estimated $10 billion in damage which is devastating to the economy especially if more of these events keep happening. Steps are being made to stop the increase of extreme weather events in the future.

What can we do to stop extreme weather events?

Extreme weather events are directly tied to global warming, so if we can stop global warming we can reduce extreme weather events. According to the EPA, “Energy Star lighting provides bright, warm light; generates 75% less heat; uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting; and lasts from 10 to 50 times longer.” This reduces the amount of greenhouse gas goes into the atmosphere and helps you save money. Everyone has heard the saying reduce, reuse, recycle, and in fact “composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions”(EPA). Being prudent about little things like recycling can help contribute to stopping global warming.

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